I’m going to admit something that a lot of people have been thinking, but haven’t said outright. I may like you as a person, or maybe not, but I’m probably using you. It didn’t start out that way, but really, I’d be stupid not to these days.
Who knew dumpster diving could be so much fun?
I’m being bombarded with incredible (read: free) deals on everything from clothing, to skins, to shoes, and it’s just too much to pass up. While I love to feed my hard earned money from my job back into the Second Life economy, you’re making it too easy for me to just spend it elsewhere.
You see, it’s bigger than a sense of entitlement from freebie hunters, or the argument that freebies shouldn’t be boycotted. Out of all the freebies received and the hunts attended, very few of those people will actually spend more than a few L in your store, let alone glance at your item in their inventory. Yet you continue to use the funds that others spend in your store to subsidize making freebies on the off-chance that someone new will discover you. As I, the loyal customer, grow more bitter about not being rewarded for faithfully shopping, you give me less incentive to continue shopping there.
That’s right. You’ve taught me to use you. Instead of wanting to spend my money, I’ll just hop over and grab your freebie of the week, or day, or whatever, and keep my dough.
I understand that the economy sucks, and your customers are making less money or cutting back on budget. That’s what sales and reward programs are for.
I’m not even calling for a ban on freebies, because they do serve their purpose. They’re getting out of hand, though. When you have to spend 12 hours over the course of two weeks on one single hunt, it’s simply not worth it. Even if I don’t go on a hunt, but you’re participating in one, I’ll hesitate to visit your store, because I don’t want my shopping experience to be filled with the lag and stench of free.
You’re welcome to continue hurting your bottom line, though, because that’s what you’re doing. If you think you need to inflate your traffic numbers to get customers, you’re taking the wrong approach to marketing your product.
In the meantime, if you see me at your store, feel free to say hi, but I won’t be there long. I just came to pick up that super new freebie you just issued for 24 hours only. What boggles me, though, is how it’s so much better than a lot of the products you actually charge for. Oh well. See you at the next announcement!
Dancien Graves on May 6, 2009
So, you really think that killing freebies will help the economy in SL? You mean to tell us that between all the copybotting, design stealing,and general shitheadness of the SL Fashion Industry some freebies are going to fuck it up? Yes, people are going to game the freebie system. Just like people do in the real world. But to take out one of the most powerful tools of advertising in a content creator’s arsenal is fucking ridiculous. Here’s an idea, next time go after hunts. Because gosh, nobody seems tired of them yet.
Vaughan Vendetta on May 6, 2009
… There’s a real-world freebie system? Elaborate on that, if you would.
~V.
Valiant Westland on May 6, 2009
The challenge is there are two distinctly different economies operating side-by-side in SL. The first is the entertainment economy, to which Creamy possibly belongs. In this economy, SL is a pleasant diversion from reality. Many of the people engaged in this economy either don’t work (Soccer Moms, Retirees, etc.) or work, but use SL strictly as a leisure outlet (game). The other economy, of which I am a part, views SL as a platform and would like to have an in-world economy that provides opportunities to make money.
The “battle lines” over which economic structure is “best” are roughly the same as those dividing the immersionists and augmentalists. The big difference between the “Real World” and the SL world “played in” by the immersionists, is that in the RW you have to make money to survive.
There is no easy way to reconcile these two positions. Those who don’t need to survive on their SL earnings are quick to disregard (”I’m going to start churning out loads of free stuff”) the legitimate financial concerns of those trying to make a living in SL. On the other side of the coin are creative “business people” who want a “state” (LL) regulated economy that protects their existing business model.
Just as in the RW, State-controlled economies are doomed to failure. Only a free economy has the potential to grow and thrive over the long term. So, what’s the answer? How should designers of all types respond to this challenge?
First, I would suggest a compromise, where those providing “free” items make them no copy & no transfer. Many already to this. By voluntarily making “free” items less attractive to experienced SL users, designers who give items away will help stimulate the sale of less restricted / more full-featured (permissions) items. Secondly, I would encourage ALL designers to work together to rid the
grid of stolen items, which are often copied and distributed “free,” as a way to either attack a particular designer or disrupt the economy.
Let’s all of us look for creative ways to help each other be successful and make SL a fun AND profitable place to be!
Chez Nabob on May 6, 2009
@ Dancien
From Moos post:
“I’m not even calling for a ban on freebies, because they do serve their purpose. They’re getting out of hand, though.”
Doesn’t sound like she wants to “kill freebies” to me, and I don’t think she said freebies weren’t a powerful advertising tool. Just that the freebies are out of control.
And they are.
Freebies are breeding a culture of entitlement among a good portion of freebie hunters.
It’s a pendulum like anything else, and the pendulum is starting to swing back the other way towards creators getting fed up with the griping and complaining and vultures joining their groups just to pilfer the gifts offered to the creator’s loyal group members (who actually support the creator’s efforts) then leaving the group once the heist is made.
Doesn’t mean all freebie hunters are ungrateful leeches, but the acts of those that are leeches is starting to wear thin.
Renee Harvy on May 6, 2009
I’d like to comment on this statement:
“…vultures joining their groups just to pilfer the gifts offered to the creator’s loyal group members (who actually support the creator’s efforts) then leaving the group once the heist is made.”
I’m one of those who regularly joins and leaves groups for gifts. Of the 25 spots we have, more than half are devoted to my own store operations, friend’s land groups, and my own land. I’ve paid a membership fee to be in most of the remaining groups, and thus, am reluctant to drop them in favor of another group, regardless of how tempting their product is. And thus I end up with a small number of groups which are regularly rotated through any designer group who’s offering interests me. That does not make me a “vulture”. It makes me a victim of the multiple uses that groups serve in the SL world, and of the 25 group limit. Joining and leaving several groups a day is a pain. No one would be happier than me to be able to join, and stay IN all the groups maintained by designers I love.
Chez Nabob on May 6, 2009
@Renee
Certainly I understand your point, but it’s about the attitude which some freebie hunters display.
If you regularly support designers by actually making purchases in their stores even if you aren’t always a member of their group due to the limits LL places on the number of groups you can join, fine.
The purpose of those kinds of free gifts are to say “thank you” to those people who support the creator the most. If you are one of those people, fantastic. Go about your business with a clear conscience.
If, however, you are joining a group simply to get the gift intended for someone else, with no intention of supporting that creator, and will in fact leave the group as soon as you get your prize, then you are, imo, a vulture and you are part of the problem.
As I said, it’s about the attitude being displayed by a good portion of the people in the freebie culture that is turning a lot of content creators off, and rightly so.
Bluegum Lunasea on May 6, 2009
@Chez
…”vultures joining their groups just to pilfer the gifts offered to the creator’s loyal group members (who actually support the creator’s efforts) then leaving the group once the heist is made.”…
Please leave off all the aspersions that the people who take the freebie that was freely given out are thieves (vultures, pilfer etc).
If, and it’s a big “if”, if as you say the store/designer only wanted the freebie/gift/promo to go to existing loyal customers (and not to potential customers as well), then there are simple ways to ensure that is what will happen:
- close the group. Make the group invite only or charge a fee to join and do not announce the gift to the freebie blogs.
- or take it out of the group notice archives after 24 hours.
- or deliver it via an alternative method such as using a “deliverator” to deliver it to a select list of customers.
But leave off the thief metaphors please. You taste the free samples from the local deli/supermarket without considering yourself a pilfering vulture don’t you?
Nexii Malthus on May 6, 2009
I taste the free samples from the local deli/supermarket because I AM their audience. I did not for the whole sake for ONLY getting those free samples, I would be actually browsing their product range and I am basically a regular customer because I buy my food to fill up the fridge.
So it is not wrong to call those who hijack the system for their own leisure as Thiefs and Pilfering Vultures.
Chez Nabob on May 6, 2009
@Bluegum
Let’s go through these point by point as your argument is riddled with holes.
“…If, and it’s a big “if”, if as you say the store/designer only wanted the freebie/gift/promo to go to existing loyal customers (and not to potential customers as well), then there are simple ways to ensure that is what will happen:”
1. How is it a “big if?” I think it’s pretty clear when a creator limits distribution of a free item to his or her group members what their intention is. Why not make it available to the entire grid if it was meant to be shared by everyone? Clearly they only want certain people to have the item. Your reasoning doesn’t make sense.
…”- close the group. Make the group invite only or charge a fee to join and do not announce the gift to the freebie blogs.”
2. This shouldn’t be necessary. Why should I or any other creator have to close the group or charge a fee for entry just to keep riff-raff out of the group? What about legitimate shoppers who are actually interested in knowing about and supporting me with purchases of future items? Should they be locked out or have to climb a hurdle with an entry fee just to be part of my group because I’m trying to prevent freeloaders from swiping a gift of appreciation to actual customers?
“…- or take it out of the group notice archives after 24 hours.”
3. Again, this shouldn’t be necessary. What about group members who didn’t log in within the 24 hr. time limit and miss out on the gift? Should they be penalized because a bunch of people can’t have a little class and common courtesy? And how would this prevent pilfering of the gift before the 24 hours is up. There are plenty of groups and blogs dedicated to alerting these vultures when something is given out to a group so they can swoop in and grab the item. Why should they benefit and my legitimate customers suffer?
“…- or deliver it via an alternative method such as using a “deliverator” to deliver it to a select list of customers.”
3. Again another step that I shouldn’t have to take. I already have a delivery mechanism for legitimate customers…my group. LL has actually given me a useful tool to reward my group members. Why should it be necessary to find a workaround because freeloaders are gaming the system?
“…But leave off the thief metaphors please. You taste the free samples from the local deli/supermarket without considering yourself a pilfering vulture don’t you?”
As Nexii said above, if I’m shopping in the supermarket I’m already a customer, and so I would have no problem accepting a free sample. I’m not there for the sole purpose of acquiring free samples with no intention of supporting the establishment. I think calling someone who does so a vulture is pretty appropriate.
Faery Sola on May 6, 2009
Excellent post Moo!
Ned Easterwood on May 6, 2009
The “culture of entitlement” is not simply a SL thing. It is part of a general cultural change that has been going on, at least in the States, for 20 years or more.
Look at the ads – how often do you see things like “You deserve (whatever it is that we are trying to sell you but you don’t need)”?
To blame this on freebies is just a little silly.
Fukmi Sideways on May 6, 2009
@Renee
While I understand you joining and unjoining a LL group for a gift, many designers use Subscribomatic or other external group management tool to avoid the 25 limit. There are still people who subscribe/unsubscribe just to get the freebies. It happened enough that I no longer allow people to get past items when they join. They may only get the giveaways as they are…uh…given away.
Vivienne Graves on May 6, 2009
This post is nonsense. I will tell you exactly *why* it is nonsense. An exercise for you: what is the relative number of content creators in SL now compared to, let’s say, 2007? What is the average quality of available content now, compared to 2007? How much larger, relative to the number of in-world content creators, has the number of actual consumers (people who’re going to spend money in SL at all) gotten?
If the SL economy is suffering, it isn’t because of freebies. It’s likely to be first and foremost because of reduced RL disposable income to spend on things like SL, for many people (given the recession out in the real world) and second due to oversaturation of the SL market with too many content creators competing for too few dollars. It’s really that simple. (Note that there’s been a 20% increase in in-world transactions over Q1 2009 from Q4 2008; clearly people *are* spending money in SL.)
Bluegum Lunasea on May 6, 2009
@Chez. When you make your group ‘open enrollment with no joining fee’ you are saying that it is ok for anyone to join at any time. So it is totally disingenuous of you to then complain that “riff-raff” and “vultures” do exactly what you have told them it is OK to do.
By the way, what is the name of your store/group?
Chez Nabob on May 7, 2009
@ Bluegum
Again, why should it be necessary to close a group or charge a fee and create a barrier that actual customers have to overcome just to get into a group they have a real interest in joining because people are abusing the good will of creators? I went over this point in my last comment.
It’s not disingenuous at all for me to expect that the gifts I or any other creators offer to our group members are for them and them alone. As I said, if group gifts were meant to be shared with the entire grid, they would be.
By placing them in the group the distribution is limited by the very nature of only sharing them with the group.
What IS disingenuous (which means “lacking in frankness, candor, or sincerity; insincere or calculating; giving a false appearance of frankness) is for someone to join a group to get at the gifts meant to show appreciation for other people, for no other reason than to get their hands on said gift and then leave the group. Sounds pretty insincere and calculating to me. THAT is disingenuous.
Your attitude and rationalizations only serve to prove the point being made about the sense of entitlement a good many freebie hunters have.
Gattinadumpling on May 8, 2009
Sure, some “freebie hunters” think they are entitled to free stuff from stores, but a lot of people who enjoy freebies also spend a hell of a lot of money in SL.
Artists like Four Yip offer amazing items and never charge for them, I suppose “Moo Money” would like to put an end to Four too. Four does this out of her generosity of spirit and to bring joy to people on SL. So do many other content creators who offer free items. Not everyone NEEDS to worry about making a buck or turning a profit in SL, a lot of people simply enjoy making other people happy.
Renee Lowenhart on May 9, 2009
Seriously this is ridicules. If designers wish to give something they should. If not then great. Most designers want their free gifts to get exposure on the free blogs, because it leads new people to the store.
Staying ahead of the competition is tough in this highly competitive and ever changing market. Businesses try various methods to gain the maximum exposure for their products, giving sample products is one way to introduce individuals to the product line.
Freebies introduce the product to consumers who might otherwise be unacquainted with the creations. Freebies are great advertising tools that gets the customer in the store and familiar with the product. If the product is good and able to gain the attention of many individuals, the number of people who actually become regular consumers would increase, thus increasing sales.
In RL it’s the big companies that stay ahead by giving sample products. For instance, Walmart is a leading company. They also have a link on their website with tons of freebies. ( http://instoresnow.walmart.com/In-Stores-Now-Free-Samples-And-Trials.aspx ) The free items change weekly. Is it killing their sales? NO!
Secondlife is competitive just like Real life. There are tons of creators, so designers choose to distribute gifts to provide a sample of what they make. The more exposure these items get, the more potential customers are introduced.
Gattinadumpling on May 9, 2009
HEY, IF YOU ARE GONNA EDIT MY POSTS TO EDIT OUT THE TRUTH, YOU SHOULD AT LEAST POST THAT WHAT I SAID WAS SEVERELY RETARDED.
BrookeMaree GossipGirl on May 9, 2009
As an SL content creator who has a store, who does give freebies, I am failing to the point you are trying to make here. You have, in one blog, thrown all content creators who dare to try and give customers a sample of their product into the same basket.
1. Freebies allow customers to get a taste of what you sell before they spend their hard earned money in your store.
2. It enables people who are new to SL to discover the world of shopping in SL before they actually have linden of their own to spend (Are you telling me you never, ever wore freebies and bought Linden on the very same day that you started? If you did, you are EXTREMELY rare)
3. It allows content creators to give back to people in SL. If I happen to pick up new customers from the freebies I put out – awesome – if not, I’m glad people still get to enjoy the things I work hard on.
4. “When you have to spend 12 hours over the course of two weeks on one single hunt, it’s simply not worth it.” That’s your opinion, which you are entititled to. Some people however, LOVE doing hunts in SL. They love the challenge, they love having the opportunity to discover stores they may not have heard of before. It allows bloggers to discover stores they may not have heard of before. Are you suggesting that not one person who participated in the Peace on Earth hunt thought griddhopping for days on end was worth it?
“Out of all the freebies received and the hunts attended, very few of those people will actually spend more than a few L in your store, let alone glance at your item in their inventory.” — If you say so — however, I constantly check my transaction history so I can try and track what brings in new customers. I have spreadsheets that track how my shop has done since its opened. You say very few — I say not so.
“Yet you continue to use the funds that others spend in your store to subsidize making freebies on the off-chance that someone new will discover you.” — Actually, no. I dont speak for everyone but I myself will create a freebie version of whatever new item I have in my store. It doesnt take any extra time to get it done, I am NOT subsidising money people spend in my store AND — if I CHOOSE to spend my FREE TIME making an item that I feel gives back to people in SL, who are you to pass judgement on me, or anyone else for it.
You may have had something of a valid argument somewhere in this blog, but you generalise and make statements of fact without (IMHO) knowing exactly what you are talking about. You want to sit in judgement on people, be specific, dont paint everyone with the same brush.
Lizzie Lexington on May 9, 2009
This post…….ah forget I am not going there because my comment will end up being inflammatory or derogatory based on my personal interactions with Moo. In a nutshell I disagree with everything you say.
Prad Prathivi on May 9, 2009
Yeah.. I’m the one moderating the comments in here because they didn’t conform to the standard we like here at Metaversally Speaking. We reserve the right to remove any comments they feel are inflammatory, derogatory, fail to be signed by a proper SL name or are just downright stupid.
Y’all will get over it.